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While some folx may have always connected virtually, online meetings may be less familiar for others, despite the sharp uptick in their use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Accessible virtual events can aid the process. Whether users are logging in remotely for work or a social gathering, there are ways in which event organizers can think critically about how to improve accessibility. Especially given the reality of Zoom fatigue, it can be particularly beneficial to offer a variety of options to meet the needs of folx....

Fear is a normal and healthy part of life. In fact, fear plays an important role in keeping us from entering harmful situations and helping us decide when to get out of situations that are not necessarily the best. Under normal circumstances, fear can be managed through reason and logic. It does not take over our lives or cause us to become irrational. A phobia, however, twists the normal fear response into something that is persistent and difficult or impossible to control....

Ovulation calculators, charts, and calendars are tools that attempt to predict when you might ovulate. These tools are based on the typical length of your menstrual cycle and the expected window for ovulation to help time sex for pregnancy. Likewise, if you’re taking Clomid (clomiphene) or other fertility medications, these tools can be used to suggest when you’ll be most fertile. While helpful tools, ovulation calculators are not 100% accurate; other methods of ovulation detection, such as ovulation test kits, are more precise....

If you have a loved one with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), you play an important role in helping that person feel supported and empowered. In doing so, you can help them improve and become less anxious. While you may have the best intentions, there are some mistakes people make in trying to help someone with GAD that can actually make the loved one feel worse. By avoiding these mistakes and looking for ways you can help, your loved one will have the support that they need to manage their condition....

Integrity versus despair is the eighth and final stage of Erik Erikson’s stage theory of psychosocial development. This stage begins at approximately age 65 and ends at death. Psychologists, counselors, and nurses today use the concepts of Erikson’s stages when providing care for aging patients. Erikson’s theory suggests that people pass through eight distinctive developmental stages as they grow and change through life. While many developmental theories tend to focus purely on childhood events, Erikson was one of the few theorists to look at development across the entire course of the lifespan....

Jean Piaget was a Swiss developmental psychologist and genetic epistemologist. Through his studies of his own three children, Piaget developed a theory of cognitive development that described a series of stages of intellectual development that children go through as they mature. Prior to Piaget, people tended to think of children as simply small versions of adults. His work introduced the idea that children’s thinking was fundamentally different than that of adults....

Oftentimes you can feel the signs of stress coming on—your heart rate increases, your armpits get sweaty, and butterflies take over your stomach. Key Takeaways Sometimes stress can be a good thing.A new study shows how reappraising stress can help people succeed in certain situations.Without any stress, people can become stagnant. But according to a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, people can take the experiences of stress and give them new purpose....

Although people tend to be sleeping more during COVID-19 lockdowns, many are reporting awakening more often during the night and having bad dreams when they are asleep, according to a study in Frontiers in Psychology. Key Takeaways In a survey published in October 2020, more than half of respondents reported sleeping more, but 26% had nightmares.Bad dreams tend to be about pandemic-related topics, like fear of becoming infected.Focusing on sleep quality means establishing habits to lower stress, like adopting a mindfulness practice, experts suggest....

Individuals are often told to reduce or manage their stress, especially over long periods of time. A new study published in Translational Psychiatry found that chronic stress may contribute to faster aging, but emotional regulation and self-control help. Key Takeaways Chronic stress was associated with accelerated aging and increased insulin resistance. Emotional regulation and self-control were associated with healthier aging and longevity.This research provides opportunities to reduce the negative impacts of stress on aging....

It can be tough to find well-made, high-quality running shoes that are also reasonably priced. Most runners know that they’ll pay a price—either in discomfort or injuries—if they run in cheaply made running shoes. “If you’re on a budget, sticking to one of the big players, such as Saucony, Brooks, or Asics, can be beneficial because they’ll offer a multitude of models to fit your foot at various price points,” says Dana Anello White, a certified running coach and founder of Jersey Women Strong....

Beyond being a wardrobe must-have for workout enthusiasts, leggings have become a day-to-day closet staple for everyone from athletes to busy parents. Designed for lounging, exercising, or navigating your daily routine, leggings allow you to comfortably go from yoga class to running errands. When looking for a workout legging, check for size, fit, material, and the exercises you’ll be completing while wearing your workout leggings. Leggings should be soft and stretchy enough to move with you through your workouts while maintaining their opacity and hold....

A home gym gives you control over your fitness routine, so you can work out when and how you want to. “That allows you to maintain your training intensity, avoid frustration, and keep your muscles pumped,” Corey Lewis, CPT, CEO of 1AND1, says. But fitness equipment can get expensive—especially if you’re buying enough to stock a home gym. So if you don’t want to spend a small fortune, finding high-quality, budget-friendly equipment is a must....

Exhaustion, feelings of cynicism, and reduced professional efficacy are all symptoms of burnout, which the World Health Organization calls an “organizational phenomenon.” While burnout is preventable, we’re all at risk of experiencing it. One of the surprising ways to avoid burnout is to add structure to your day and focus on deliberately transitioning from one activity to the next so you don’t carry your work into your personal life and your personal life into your work....

While the study of the mind and behavior may be a subject as old as time, psychology has not always existed as it does today. Most experts actually consider psychology itself a relatively young discipline. So when did psychology really start to emerge as a science? Psychology originally had its earliest roots in philosophy and physiology. According to most psychology historians, it was the establishment of the very first experimental psychology lab that officially marked psychology’s beginnings as a separate and distinct discipline....

For a couple that’s ready to start a family, fertility evaluation should involve both partners. Often, it’s assumed that, because only people who ovulate become pregnant, infertility is a “women’s issue”. This is simply not the case. Key Takeaways Infertility has long been viewed as a “women’s issue”, when in reality both men and women are affected equally. Men should undergo fertility testing if they’d like to be proactive in family planning or are having trouble conceiving....

Protein is an essential nutrient that supports the structure and function of the human body. It builds, strengthens, and repairs your organs, muscles, bones, and blood. Protein is also necessary to make hormones, enzymes, and antibodies. The Proteins Found in Breast Milk The protein in your breast milk is important for your baby’s growth and development, but it also helps to protect your baby from illness. In the first few days after your baby is born, your child will get colostrum....

Everyone worries about things sometimes. But people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) experience an exaggerated amount of worry, which can become debilitating. Why We Worry Worrying is a cognitive symptom of anxiety. ​At a moderate level, anxiety can be helpful. It motivates a person to take something seriously, to solve a problem, to consider the implications of his or her actions, or to search for reassurance. Sometimes, a person can become stuck in a state of worry that isn’t helpful....

Intro needed Literacy Skills Literacy skills are all the skills needed for reading and writing. They include such things as awareness of the sounds of language, awareness of print, and the relationship between letters and sounds. Other literacy skills include vocabulary, spelling, and comprehension. Here are some simple definitions of some of the skills contained within the larger concept of literacy. Phonemic Awareness Phonemic awareness (awareness of sounds) is the ability to hear and play with the individual sounds of language, to create new words using those sounds in different ways....

The primary purpose of any 12-step group is to carry its message and give comfort to others who are still suffering. This is spelled out in Tradition 5. Alcoholics Anonymous Tradition 5: Each group has but one primary purpose: to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers. Al-Anon Tradition 5: Each Al-Anon Family Group has but one purpose: to help families of alcoholics. We do this by practicing the Twelve Steps of AA ourselves, by encouraging and understanding our alcoholic relatives, and by welcoming and giving comfort to families of alcoholics....

Suicidal ideation, sometimes referred to as suicidal thoughts, describes thoughts, fantasies, ideas or images related to dying by suicide. Contrary to common belief, depression and suicidal thoughts are not limited to adults, but symptoms and warning signs are often different in teens. Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor....